Larry Brinker Jr.

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If your loyal customer base isn't enough to keep your doors open in a challenging market, here are a few strategies to change your luck. Running a business is no easy feat, especially when faced with factors outside of an owner's control—such as high rents, supply chain challenges, and stiff competition. Despite your loyal customer base and quality service, you may still struggle to keep your business afloat. For business owners facing these tough realities, Fast Company Executive Board members share practical advice and creative strategies that can offer new paths forward. Read on to find helpful tips to weather obstacles and find new ways to sustain your vision in the community.

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Here's how to show your customers appreciation without breaking the bank. Showing genuine appreciation can go a long way in building lasting relationships with customers and clients. Small but thoughtful gestures can make a big impact for companies on a limited budget and keep customers feeling valued year-round. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members share what you can offer to show how much you value their loyalty while being mindful of your budget. From personalized messages to exclusive access and special perks, there are many ways businesses can express gratitude and strengthen connections without a large expense.

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It's lonely at the top if you don't have the right support network to lean on regularly.  According to a Harvard Business blog, approximately 70% of CEOs have reported feelings of loneliness. But the good news is, they don't have to go it alone if they begin to lean on their peers with similar career circumstances and are willing to collaborate and learn from each other. Keeping an open-door policy at work and staying connected with staff members across departments is important for strengthening work relationships and a sense of togetherness. However, it's also necessary to maintain a work-life balance to enjoy meaningful activities with family and friends that will reinvigorate your purpose for pursuing your livelihood each day. The following experts from Fast Company Executive Board have all had their moments. Here, they each offer their suggestions on how to find the right support and build community to create success in any role.

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It's your delivery that truly counts. Implement these tips if you want prospective customers to take action regarding your brand. Whether you are marketing a product to build on the momentum of your latest campaign, or delivering a well-thought-out pitch to a venture capitalist for additional funding, storytelling is an essential part of the process that will elevate your company's growth potential and credibility in the marketplace. Below, 19 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer their best tip for developing a storyline that will make a strong impact and get people excited about your business enough to take a significant call to action that will reflect on quarterly growth.

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Here's how to introduce Innovation and team creativity alongside company standards. Oftentimes, in the business world, employees may be afraid to get creative or express themselves freely because they are certain their ideas will get shot down, especially if it's outside of traditional regulations. However, in the digital landscape that continues to evolve, company leaders must keep an open mind about potential ideas that may sound risky but could be exactly what is needed for the company to thrive in the long run at a rapid rate. Below, 11 members from Fast Company Executive Board each discuss one way employers can balance innovation with regulation to avoid stifling team creativity while ensuring safety and ethical standards.

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Listen to your people and learn how to foster employee engagement every day. Hiring the right people is the key to success at any company, but to keep them growing and willing to stay on board, the leadership team must learn to understand what gets their employees out of bed in the morning to show up and do the hard work. Creating a work environment that makes everyone feel welcomed and heard is essential to help staff members continue to develop as they support each other and the company's progress in business. Below, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each describe one measure that company leaders can adopt to foster a diverse workforce culture that drives innovation and employee satisfaction.

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Here's what it takes to ace your next press interview, according to experts. When preparing for an interview on a live or on-demand platform, it's important to focus on both content and delivery. Whether you’re an introvert who prefers careful planning or an extrovert who feeds off energy, preparing yourself for an upcoming interview can ensure that you're represented accurately and positively.  From refining your key messages to honing your body language, there are a few things you can do to get yourself interview-ready. To that end, Fast Company Executive Board members share tried-and-true tips to ensure you’re ready to make the most of your time in the spotlight.

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Is your team in a safe space to collaborate and share? Maintaining a successful business in the marketplace not only depends on brand loyalty from customers but also on the creative health of the company's employees. Fostering a company culture that makes staff members feel psychologically safe enough to express their interests and brainstorm with others will also demonstrate how much their contributions to the organization are valued.  To help business leaders create a better work atmosphere, boost team productivity and morale, and spark innovation to move forward together, 18 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer one tip that leadership teams can do to support their employees' creative health at work.

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It can be difficult to stand out from your competition when trying to hire top talent; with a strong company culture, it's easier. When it comes to standing out in a competitive job market, your company's culture can be a crucial influence in attracting and retaining top talent. A workplace that is vibrant, inclusive, and supportive not only sets an organization apart from its competitors but lends itself to employee satisfaction and productivity. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members discuss how companies can use their culture as a key differentiator from their competition. With these strategies in mind, you can cultivate a work environment that attracts the top candidates in your industry.

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Encouraging your team to be problem solvers is a better way to build trust and keep them engaged in the process. Unleashing your full potential as a leader begins with having the willingness to embrace your own humility and enable others to shine. Empowering others to find the right solutions when they are faced with business challenges is an essential part of delegating responsibilities and building stronger teams. When it comes to helping direct reports develop decision-making strategies at work,16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board agree that it is much better to "coach" people rather than "manage." This is how potential successful leaders continue to grow.

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Apply these strategies to leave a lasting impression. Whether you are striving to expand your personal or professional network, it's essential to create and nurture relationships that are not transactional. This is because, nine times out of ten, the majority of people will typically engage with people they feel confident around, can trust, and truly relate to in and outside of the marketplace. Here, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members each share their strategy to help industry professionals utilize networking to drive their business or individual career objectives forward, tactfully and authentically.

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Smarter, greener solutions to expand your business and save money. Leading a business that is still thriving and relevant to its consumers in today's tight economy is no easy feat. Having the bandwidth to launch a second brick-and-mortar location to serve a different target audience in another location is even more remarkable, but there are certain details that, if implemented correctly, can help companies save on the lifecycle of projected building costs over the long term. Below, nine Fast Company Executive Board members each offer a sustainable design idea for the architectural renovation plans for the space. They also discuss some of the structural pitfalls to watch out for.

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14 biz leaders discuss their best practices for overcoming business obstacles. Whether you are launching a brand-new business for the very first time, or you've recently been offered a promotion after climbing the ladder at your corporate job, the role of leadership is not always an easy one. This is especially true when your former lunch buddies start treating you differently and your engagement with them suddenly feels a bit awkward. Every leader in transition goes through growing pains, but eventually, it gets better. Below, 14 experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on their biggest challenges in management roles and how they've been able to overcome them or at least find a better balance.

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You may have a groundbreaking design 'solution,' but have you thought about the following points? Whether your creative design team has been tapped to incorporate a new outdoor green space in a public setting, or partner to develop a community recreation center where residents can gather to spend quality time with their family and friends, the first step is for business leaders and staff to understand who they serve.  In fact, reaching out to local residents from the broader community, upfront, is a better way to build bridges, gather feedback, and understand the pain points that may (or may not) need to be solved. Doing so will also help cut down on any unnecessary investments that are not a good fit for the intended audience being served. Below, eight members from Fast Company Executive Board share one thing that company leaders need to consider both socially and culturally when integrating a sustainable design solution into the marketplace.

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Apply these best practices to add your voice to the conversation and take your seat at the table. Whether you're launching your career in your industry of choice for the very first time or you're a new hire fulfilling your latest role, it may take some time to prove your worth on the job and gain the trust of your leaders, direct co-workers, and other cross-departmental teams. In theory, employers must ensure that leadership, from the top down, is creating a psychologically safe environment for their employees to feel heard and share ideas or concerns. But if the organization that you signed up for is not being proactive about putting policies in place to improve its company culture, experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer 20 best practices to assist aspiring leaders who want to enhance their chances of having a seat at the table in their workplace.

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Here's how to build better relationships with your community workforce, local government, and area businesses. There is much to consider when company leaders begin negotiating and collaborating with local governments to possibly open headquarters in a new or unfamiliar area. It's not only about understanding the potential target audience, but it's also about protecting, respecting, and maintaining the workforce and consumer pipeline that already occupies the community. All brands must be aware of the direct impact and responsibility that comes with settling into the cities they plan to conduct business in worldwide. Here, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board offer tips to help business leaders execute their grand opening plans without a hitch—and with the local community's connection and buy-in.

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Here's how managers can help their team showcase the added value they bring to the company and remain irreplaceable during tough economic times. As employee layoff announcements continue to loom across major industries, team leaders may be wondering how they can ensure the stability of their department's future at the company and avoid being replaced or eventually phased out. Here, 14 experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on their best practices to help staff members stay proactive when it comes to highlighting their contributions to move the business forward long term.

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Access to the right technology can transform the employee experience and ensure maximum productivity and innovation from your team. An exceptional workplace experience should be at the top of many companies' lists when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent. Company leaders are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technology to transform their workplaces for this reason. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members explore how forward-thinking leaders can harness the power of workplace technology to design a workplace experience that's both engaging and efficient. Read on to discover the key strategies and emerging trends that are turning workplaces into dynamic hubs of productivity and collaboration.

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Modern companies should think beyond traditional philanthropic efforts and find ways to make a real difference for the people they serve. As consumers become more focused on brands that practice corporate social responsibility, more and more companies are finding impactful ways to make a positive mark on their local communities. Forward-thinking businesses are spearheading work programs, offering financial assistance, and nurturing entrepreneurial talents in their neighborhoods. Here, Fast Company Executive Board members discuss the strategies companies can adopt to contribute to their local communities in an impactful way. Follow their recommendations to create a lasting and meaningful change in your community beyond your bottom line.

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Here's what marketing teams are counting on to improve their client conversion rates this year. With the landscape of B2B marketing changing at a rapid pace, creative content leaders and teams need to stay ahead of the curve if they want to gain brand recognition among prospective clients in the marketplace. As we head into the new year, 19 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer one trend that they are most excited about and why other leaders should keep an eye on as well to promote their growth of business throughout the entire year.

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Be willing to keep less timely ideas on your radar for future consideration. As a manager, you're responsible for leading a team that can help the company thrive. That is why it's necessary to foster a work culture where everyone's voice matters and they feel heard. If you are seeking team feedback on innovation and new ideas to move the business forward, it can be hard at times to decide which ideas have potential and which ones deserve your attention and should be tested.  Below, 10 members from Fast Company Executive Board share their best strategy for implementing their team's ideas diplomatically and in a timely manner.

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Implement these innovations to give yourself back the time you deserve. In business, the saying goes: "Why reinvent the wheel when you don't have to?" As the digital revolution continues to rise, there are so many new technologies available at our fingertips to make work and home life more efficient.  Here, 20 Fast Company Executive Board members discuss one innovation that has influenced and improved the way they balance professional and personal responsibilities each day.

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Are your traditional gift-giving gestures getting stale? The holiday season is the perfect time to spread more cheer by demonstrating to your dedicated employees how much you appreciate their efforts to help keep a well-organized business up and running. If your leadership team is all tapped out of original gift-giving ideas for their team this year, then try one of the following ideas that 17 experts from Fast Company Executive Board highly recommend to show gratitude for the hard work their staff members continue to put in throughout the year. 

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How do you measure the effectiveness of company initiatives and when should you switch gears? When a company's C-suite or department managers are highly invested in a new initiative to improve on a specific key performance indicator, it can be disheartening if the measurements fail to show positive results in the early stages of the plan.  It's important to give it some time and careful thought before throwing in the towel, but if the pace doesn't pick up based on the goals you and your team have set, eventually you'll have to pivot and come up with a different strategy if you don't have one in mind already. Below, 10 experts from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on their best tips for moving forward when the original plans are underperforming.

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10 ways to bridge the communication gap (and restore trust) between department leaders and company heads. It takes a village to raise a company's success level in the marketplace. That is why it is necessary for teams to depend on each other whether the business is up or down, so they can stay in sync and keep the operation running smoothly. Building stronger relationships at work plays a key factor and can boost morale, which in turn, can boost productivity and encourage leadership and teams to collaborate effectively at all times. Below, 10 Fast Company Executive Board members each offer one tip to help department managers and company founders or owners develop and maintain trusting relationships with one another. 

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If you are just starting to think about your marking strategy, you're already behind—but it's not too late. The holiday season can be extremely competitive when it comes to attracting the attention of hesitant consumers. This is an ever-increasing dilemma in today's uncertain economy. In order to stand out, the company leaders must analyze the market trends carefully in order to provide the right solutions to potential and current customers. They also need to be flexible enough to change direction if a campaign isn't landing well.  Here, 16 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share their tips to finalize and implement marketing and sales strategies for the upcoming holiday season that will help companies stay ahead in the marketplace.

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What inspired your career path? There are a variety of reasons why people choose to go into business or become interested in a specific career industry sector. Some would say that the key to finding your calling is to do what you love or pursue an area where your skills can truly make a difference in the lives of others. Here, 18 business leaders from Fast Company Executive Board weigh in on what inspired them to seek and maintain their current position as a professional in their succeeding organizations.

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Keep your eyes on the prize by applying these 18 tips. While success is attainable at various levels in a person's career, it doesn't just happen overnight—you have to work for it. You may even hit some bumps in the road along your journey, but any thought leader who has been in the game for a long time knows that business challenges and even failures are simply a part of the learning process.  Here, 18 Fast Company Executive Board members offer their advice to other professionals who are trying to reach their short-term goals of the moment—both professional and personal.

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Apply these best practices to strengthen your relationship as a mentor and partner.  If you're a leader seeking a great personal assistant who can help you elevate your business to the next level, it's essential that you take your time until you find the proper fit. Once you've succeeded at the first step, it's time to nurture the relationship by learning what drives them and what they are most passionate about—treating them like a partner in collaboration on your journey and engaging them in meaningful assignments. While retaining top talent is not an easy feat, here, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share their best tips for training a high-level assistant that you can count on to work with you closely for the long term.

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Here's what to do when the best-laid business plans of leadership and teams suddenly go awry.  For many business leaders and their teams, the month of August is an essential time for them to assess how the first half of the year went. Are the current strategies that they have in place really working? It's also a time to set (or reset) their goals and objectives for the upcoming year.  Keeping all that in mind, sometimes plans, unfortunately, fall by the wayside or may require some unexpected tweaking depending on external factors like market conditions, customer needs, or technological innovation. That's why it's important to remain flexible and have an open mind about how to pivot correctly when necessary, considering the current situation of your department or organization. Here, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members offer their solutions to help other business leaders and teams stay focused even when their initial plans begin to get sidetracked or fail altogether.

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Business leaders share insights on compensation equity. Paying every employee a fair wage based on their experience and talent—not their gender or cultural background—should be a given. For many companies, treating workers equally for the time they put in at the company each day is simply a best practice. But for some organizations, wage inequality is still prevalent and is an issue that needs to be addressed.  To keep the conversation at the forefront of what's happening in the workplace, we asked 12 Fast Company Executive Board members to each provide one step that companies can take to bridge the gender and ethnic wage gap happening around the globe.

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14 tips for business leaders aiming to reframe a culture of adaptability at the office. For a company to remain competitive and survive in today's marketplace, its leaders must be willing to fully embrace what it means to build a culture of adaptability among a diverse workforce and live up to its own expectations. Improving the company's culture won't happen overnight, but if leaders begin to gather and share employee success stories and transformative behavior patterns, doing so will plant the seed of change for the better. In turn, top talent will be more likely to take a second look at potential career opportunities at the prospective company. Here are 14 suggestions from Fast Company Executive Board members that can lead to a better work environment and a desire to change. 

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Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is one of the most critical business skills a leader can possess. 

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Does your company practice what it preaches, consistently? When you are trying to build or maintain a successful business, it's important to make sure that the company's core values are consistently being reflected in everything that it does.  As a leader, it's impossible to be everywhere at once. Refusing to delegate specific tasks to free up your time to focus on other priorities will lead to burnout. Ensuring your company's reputation is living up to its standards starts with hiring the right team of representatives. Below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members share other methods that work for them.

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Implementing these tips can help you ensure both company and employee success. When you are trying to build a successful business with credibility, hiring a reliable and capable power team is the first step to becoming a mainstay in the industry for the long term. Learning to engage with every team member, demonstrating that you are interested and invested in their contribution to the company's achievements over time, is also key to employee happiness and their willingness to stick around as they continue to develop and grow with the organization. Here are 13 other best practices from Fast Company Executive Board members to help employers find strong and competent employees that they can trust and depend on.

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When provided with a little leverage, determined people are often able to pull themselves up the rest of the way. 

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Strike up a conversation that builds consumer trust about what your company stands for before you start pitching your product or service. Pop-up shops and kiosks can be an effective way for existing companies to engage with potential customers in new ways and generate additional buzz around their products and services. However, before they set up a new retail location, companies must consider several important factors. Setting your temporary retail shop up for success involves factors like choosing the right location, researching your target market, and setting clear objectives and metrics to track progress. Below, a panel of Fast Company Executive Board members explore these items more in-depth and provided guidance on how companies can launch a successful pop-up shop or kiosk.

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There's an upside to a downsize. Here's how company leaders can make a difference and maintain their staff's trust. In the past few years, many companies are still facing economic challenges in a fluctuating market, which also makes it difficult when leaders are forced to have tough conversations with their dedicated team about potential or necessary cutbacks. Demonstrating transparency and open communication is one of the most important steps to keep your stakeholders well-informed along the way. If you work together with your team to engage in ideas for alternative solutions, you will set your organization up for success and strengthen your potential to come out on top in the long term. Below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members share their best practices to help leaders prepare their teams for cutbacks in the business world.

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Be calm and professional in the workplace, so you can lead your employees by example. When you are dealing with team dynamics and diverse perspectives in the workplace environment, there are bound to be occasions when team leaders or co-workers disagree over the projected plans on an assignment or a decision that was made. In these cases, it's best for everyone involved to put the conversation on pause so they can take time to reflect on what's happening and refrain themselves from overreacting on the spot. Here are 13 suggestions from Fast Company Executive Board members to help agitated colleagues focus on the business at hand without losing their cool.

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Leading business professionals offer tips to engage team members all year round. When the holiday season is over and the company is entering a slow business period, it's common for employees to become easily distracted or disengaged if there is no action plan and nothing to look forward to at work. It can also cause some staff members to feel uninspired until the next big project comes along and the business is back up and running at a normal pace. No matter what time of year it is some employees may be feeling stuck, creatively, or in a siloed state of mind. Below, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members discuss their ideas to start conversations and spark creativity and collaboration among your employees, all 12 months.

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If you're feeling overwhelmed or frustrated about a recent oversight on your part, relax, reflect, then implement these tactics to improve. As a business leader, when you think about failure, remember that no matter what the situation, it's simply a chance to improve on missteps so you can continue to grow, move ahead and make better decisions.  It's also important to change your mindset by deciding that things are happening for you, not to you. Once you accomplish this, you'll be able to choose an opportunity and commit to doing your best to get it right in the future. Below, 14 Fast Company Executive Board members share practical ways to leverage a failed business experience, reset your mind, and launch new opportunities to get back on track.

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When businesses plan to mentor rather than simply replace, they can set the building blocks for better long-term success—for the companies and for the people who lead them.